This is page numbers 913 - 942 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

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Further Return To Question 440-12(7): Support For Maritime Fishing And Sealing Industries
Question 440-12(7): Support For Maritime Fishing And Sealing Industries
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 919

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ballantyne.

Supplementary To Question 440-12(7): Support For Maritime Fishing And Sealing Industries
Question 440-12(7): Support For Maritime Fishing And Sealing Industries
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 919

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

It is good to hear that, I would have liked to hear a more passionate yes, but...

---Laughter

...I certainly will accept a yes. Mr. Speaker, if I could ask the Minister, when can we expect this particular trip to happen? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 440-12(7): Support For Maritime Fishing And Sealing Industries
Question 440-12(7): Support For Maritime Fishing And Sealing Industries
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 919

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Further Return To Question 440-12(7): Support For Maritime Fishing And Sealing Industries
Question 440-12(7): Support For Maritime Fishing And Sealing Industries
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 919

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have actually been in contact with the Minister in the format of letters. However, I have not been in contact with him over the last week or so; I have been sitting here as everybody else has. My schedule, at this point, has been quite well laid out for the next few weeks, so I don't know when I will be able to set it up, but I will certainly make a good effort in the very near future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 440-12(7): Support For Maritime Fishing And Sealing Industries
Question 440-12(7): Support For Maritime Fishing And Sealing Industries
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 919

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Earlier today, in my Member's statement, I had stated that there is the Pentecostal Sub-Arctic Leadership Training College in Fort Smith, and I had indicated that there is a shortage of subsidized housing on the part of the college. I am wondering whether or not it would be possible for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to consider assisting this college by looking at designating a couple of Thebacha Campus housing units for the purpose of supporting the Sub-Arctic Leadership Training College in order to house students in Fort Smith. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 441-12(7): Subsidized Housing For Pentecostal Sub-arctic Leadership Training College
Question 441-12(7): Subsidized Housing For Pentecostal Sub-arctic Leadership Training College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 919

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just so that we are clear, I don't have a problem, Mr. Speaker, of looking into this particular matter, but it is still important that we ensure that there are units available for the Thebacha Campus; our own students who are in Fort Smith are our first priority. But I will take the advice of the honourable Member and look into this matter and see how we might be able to be of assistance.

Return To Question 441-12(7): Subsidized Housing For Pentecostal Sub-arctic Leadership Training College
Question 441-12(7): Subsidized Housing For Pentecostal Sub-arctic Leadership Training College
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 919

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Pudluk.

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On March 30, 1995, I made a Member's statement regarding the healing workshop being conducted in Resolute Bay. On May 11th, this workshop or seminar is going to go ahead. At that time, I asked a question about interpretation services, whether the GNWT would be able to provide interpretation services to the workshop. Now, I would like to ask Mr. Nerysoo whether his department will be making their interpreters available for the healing workshop in Resolute Bay. I think this workshop is going to be very important to the future of the community. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Nerysoo.

Return To Question 442-12(7): Provision Of Interpreters At Resolute Bay Healing Workshop
Question 442-12(7): Provision Of Interpreters At Resolute Bay Healing Workshop
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 919

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can advise the honourable Member that I'm not certain whether staff is going to be available but I believe the event is a worthwhile one for us to provide support to. I will look at how we can be of assistance, whether it is with our own interpreters or through a contract arrangement so that service can be provided. We will give priority to this issue.

Return To Question 442-12(7): Provision Of Interpreters At Resolute Bay Healing Workshop
Question 442-12(7): Provision Of Interpreters At Resolute Bay Healing Workshop
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 919

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents and, in particular, the Nahanni Ram Tourism Association, I raised an issue about tourism zone association cutbacks. I would like to ask the Minister, what is the current status of his department's zone association review? Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Mr. Todd.

Return To Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 920

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The consultant for the zone association review is in the final throes right now of finalizing his report. This report will go back into the respective areas for comment. Parallel to that, I met with one of the executive directors of the Frontier Visitors' Association and I encouraged her to try to bring together all of the western zone associations in the not-too-distant future -- and I indicated we were prepared to assist in financing it -- to see if we can reach an arrangement with the zones in the industry as to how we can proceed in the coming months with respect to the initiatives we've taken for overall tourist associations, one for the east and one for the west. Thank you.

Return To Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 920

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 920

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was brought to my attention that his review committee breezed through my constituency very quickly. It seems as if they already know what the report is going to say. The Nahanni Ram Tourism Association did not submit any written recommendations to the visiting review committee. It's my understanding that each zone was asked a standard set of questions and their respective positions were based on voter response. I would like to ask the Minister if written recommendations or positions were required for submission to the zone review committee, outlining each zone association's position. Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 920

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 920

John Todd Keewatin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm not aware of the methodology they used at the community level. I know that, as the Minister responsible for this initiative, it's important to me that we seek community input into this new strategy that has come about for two reasons: one, because there are fundamental differences in tourism development in the east and west. There is a highway system in the west, there is different geography in terms of where the client comes from and there is a non-highway air system in the east. Coupled with that, division is imminent in 1999. Those were the primary reasons for looking at establishing two associations that were more reflective of the industry.

I would suggest to the honourable Member that if there was a request for written submissions, that would be one way of doing it. I would hope there would also be the opportunity for oral submissions. If, in fact, the consultant did, as the Member suggested, move quickly through his constituency, particularly the Nahanni area, I'll look into that and see what we can do to ensure that the Nahanni Ram Tourism Association is given adequate time to send in their comments. We should seek their counsel on how we would go about reorganizing two tourist associations in the east and the west, and how we're going to go about running the zone associations in a more cost-effective way, given the fact that we're looking at some budget restraints and cutbacks in the overall category of support for zones. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 920

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Supplementary To Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 920

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My concern with this review is that tourism in my area has a huge potential and could develop further in a lot of jobs and a lot of business opportunities for people in my constituency. This review was to develop a strategy that the department is going to follow in the future. My concern is that this review be done in a way where everybody who has a concern in my constituency has a say in it. I'm told that this review only went to Fort Simpson and they talked only to executives. They did not go into the communities to listen to the members of the tourism associations.

I would like to ask the Minister, what provisions have been made to allow each zone to comment on the review's findings? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 920

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Todd.

Further Return To Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 920

John Todd Keewatin Central

It's unfortunate if the consultant didn't travel into the honourable Member's riding. He knows I've spoken on a number of occasions on the importance of the Nahanni area. I think it's probably one of the most beautiful places in the Northwest Territories so I will have a look into that issue. However, there is a sense of urgency in terms of trying to find a new way of doing things. We've had to look at cutbacks, as instructed by the FMB, with respect to our zone association budgets. I guess that's the urgency.

To answer the question, I'm saying on the one hand, I'll check into why his communities didn't get an opportunity, two, that there has to be recognition that there is a sense of urgency because of budget restraints; and, three, in terms of ongoing input, I would suggest two things: one, I believe there is a move approved by some of the existing zones to call a meeting in the not-too-distant future of all the zones in an effort to reach an arrangement with each other as to how a western tourist association should be formalized. That might be one area where the Nahanni Ram Tourism Association could participate.

Two, I will discuss with the deputy minister what steps we intend to take once the report has come forward to see if, in fact, we have consensus on the results of the report and report back to the honourable Member. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Question 443-12(7): Status Of Tourism Zone Association Review
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 920

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Antoine.